1And I saw a wild beast rising out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns ten diadems, and on its heads names of blasphemy. [13:2] And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and its feet like a bear's, and its mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave to it his power and his throne and great authority. [13:3] And one of its heads was as having been slain to death, and its death-wound was healed. And the whole earth marveled after the beast. [13:4] And they bowed down before the dragon, because he gave the authority to the beast, and they bowed down before the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast, and who is able to make war against it?' [13:5] And a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies was given to it, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to it. [13:6] And it opened its mouth for blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle — those dwelling in heaven. [13:7] And it was given to it to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority was given to it over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. [13:8] And all those dwelling on the earth will bow down before it — each one whose name has not been written in the book of life of the Lamb having been slain from the foundation of the world. [13:9] If anyone has an ear, let him hear. [13:10] If anyone is for captivity, into captivity he goes; if anyone is to be killed by the sword, by the sword he is killed. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints.
REV 13:1-10
The Beast from the Sea
In the world it was spoken into
In the first-century Roman Empire, the imagery of a beast rising from the sea would evoke immediate associations with chaos, rebellion, and imperial power. The sea symbolized disorder and danger in Jewish thought, while Roman audiences would recognize the beast’s composite features—leopard, bear, lion—as echoes of Daniel’s apocalyptic visions, which critiqued oppressive empires. The ten horns and seven heads, adorned with royal diadems , pointed unmistakably to imperial authority, likely evoking the Roman emperors who claimed divine status and demanded worship . The blasphemous names on the heads underscored the tension between imperial cults and Jewish-Christian monotheism. The dragon’s transfer of power to the beast mirrored the Roman patronage system, where authority flowed from higher powers. The mortal wound on one head, healed, may have resonated with Nero redivivus legends, a popular belief that Nero would return to power. For early audiences, this vision critiqued Rome’s oppressive rule while affirming God’s ultimate sovereignty.
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How other translations render this
REV 13:1
- KJV
- And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
- BSB
- Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.
- Koinōnos
- And I saw a wild beast rising out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns ten diadems, and on its heads names of blasphemy.
REV 13:2
- KJV
- And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
- BSB
- The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.
- Koinōnos
- And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and its feet like a bear's, and its mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave to it his power and his throne and great authority.
REV 13:3
- KJV
- And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
- BSB
- One of the heads of the beast appeared to have been wounded. But the mortal wound was healed, and the whole world marveled and followed the beast.
- Koinōnos
- And one of its heads was as having been slain to death, and its death-wound was healed. And the whole earth marveled after the beast.
REV 13:4
- KJV
- And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
- BSB
- They worshiped the dragon who had given authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can wage war against it?”
- Koinōnos
- And they bowed down before the dragon, because he gave the authority to the beast, and they bowed down before the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast, and who is able to make war against it?
REV 13:5
- KJV
- And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
- BSB
- The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months.
- Koinōnos
- And a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies was given to it, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to it.
REV 13:6
- KJV
- And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
- BSB
- And the beast opened its mouth to speak blasphemies against God and to slander His name and His tabernacle—those who dwell in heaven.
- Koinōnos
- And it opened its mouth for blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle — those dwelling in heaven.
REV 13:7
- KJV
- And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
- BSB
- Then the beast was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.
- Koinōnos
- And it was given to it to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority was given to it over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.
REV 13:8
- KJV
- And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
- BSB
- And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.
- Koinōnos
- And all those dwelling on the earth will bow down before it — each one whose name has not been written in the book of life of the Lamb having been slain from the foundation of the world.
REV 13:9
- KJV
- If any man have an ear, let him hear.
- BSB
- He who has an ear, let him hear:
- Koinōnos
- If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
REV 13:10
- KJV
- He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
- BSB
- “If anyone is destined for captivity, into captivity he will go; if anyone is to die by the sword, by the sword he must be killed.” Here is a call for the perseverance and faith of the saints.
- Koinōnos
- If anyone is for captivity, into captivity he goes; if anyone is to be killed by the sword, by the sword he is killed. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
REV 13:1
- a beast:The word translated 'a beast' refers to a wild, untamed animal, often one that is dangerous or predatory, rather than simply any animal.
- royal crowns:The term translated 'royal crowns' specifically refers to a diadem, a band worn around the head by Persian kings and later by other monarchs, symbolizing royal authority and sovereignty.
REV 13:4
- they worshiped:The word translated 'they worshiped' describes an act of prostration or bowing down, often in reverence or submission, which could be directed towards a deity, a king, or a person of high status.
REV 13:6
- tabernacle:The word translated 'tabernacle' literally means a tent or booth, often a temporary dwelling or shelter, and in a religious context, a sacred tent used for worship.